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Contact: Bill Haduch
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May 15, 2003
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TO THE POINT: High school students present original math research at Rutgers conference
NEW BRUNSWICK/PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Sixty-five high school students from throughout the United
States presented results from original mathematical research during a May 10 Rutgers conference, "Graph
Theory and its Applications to Problems of Society." The students participating in the event at Rutgers'
Busch campus were among 104 attendees who also included parents, teachers and sponsors.
Graph theory belongs to the field of modern applied mathematics known as discrete mathematics, a
discipline that deals with networks, patterns and designs. Among the applications discussed in the lectures
were maximizing distribution of supplies through a chain of stores, locating a watchman in an art gallery and
tracking the spread of rumors.
"The outstanding nature of the students' research and the quality of their presentations were truly
exceptional, and their enthusiasm was infectious," said Fred S. Roberts, professor of mathematics, director
of Rutgers' Center for Discrete Mathematics and Theoretical Computer Science (DIMACS) and conference
organizer.
"One of the reasons that this conference was so successful was that graph theory is a natural subject for
student research. It is easy to understand without a sophisticated mathematical background and easy to come
to the frontiers of knowledge," said Chuck Biehl, a teacher and administrator at the Charter School of
Wilmington, Del. Biehl is one of a group of experienced teachers who act as a lead teacher - a mentor to
other teachers in the DIMACS Connect Institute (DCI) program, of which the conference was a part. DCI is
sponsored by the AT&T Foundation and the National Science Foundation.
Participants and presentations included:

White Plains High School, White Plains, NY: I. Amjad, N. Giurato, S. Light, J. Williams, "Three
Door Entrance Problem"

Seton Catholic High School, Pittston, PA: C. Andrewscavage, J. Kaminski, T. Marriott, R.
McCulloch, "Comparing Algorithms for Searching Graphs Using C++"

Kennedy Catholic High School, Hermitage, PA: S. D'Auria, M. Freeman, N. Hurl, J. Joseph, L.
Joseph, E. Pearce, Z. Zuschlag, "Orcs, Goblins, and Trolls, Oh My! The Domination of Middle
Earth"

The Charter School of Wilmington, Wilmington, DE: A. Denemark, B. Fawcett, N. Fisher, M.
Shenoi, "Exploiting the Senior Class"

Upper Township Middle School, Petersburg, PA: V. Braga, D. Brady, M. Sobrinski and A. Young,
"The Ins and Outs of Guarding the Art"

White Plains High School, White Plains, NY: J. Aufiero, M. Paonessa, L. Zoller, "Restaurant
Dilemma"

The International High School, Long Island City, NY: G. Erisnor, Y. Feng, J.P. Lopes, C. Chicaiza,
X.L. Zhao, S. Dabre, "Radio Frequency Assignment"

White Plains High School, White Plains, NY: J. Eason, "Konigsberg Bridge Problem"

The International High School, Long Island City, NY: O. Garcia, F. Quinones, L. Huang, F. Xie,
Darunphanth, Soncharoen, E. Chrzanowska, "Polyhedra Coloring"

The International High School, Long Island City, NY: Y. Hu, N. Begun, M.J. Carangui, Y.
Vanchytesky, A. Tarasov, Q. Li, "Optimizing Networks (Traveling Salesperson Problem)"

Dobyns-Bennett High School, Kingsport, TN: J. Kerr, P. Maginnis, J. Tencer, "The Olympic Ring
Problem"

White Plains High School, White Plains, NY: D. Mosley, J. Rotonde, A. Morales, J. Siino, "Abstract
for Domination: Video Camera Surveillance"

White Plains High School, White Plains, NY: J. Hernandez, E. Fuentes and A. Rios, "Scheduling
Abstract"

Dobyns-Bennett High School, Kingsport, TN: C. Morelock, M. Spain, "Finding the Search Number
of a Graph"

Livingston High School, Livingston, NJ: M. Duskin, A. Genovino, J. Alston, E. Schlam, L. Isaksen,
L. Heteji, J. Heoke, "How well connected is the Senior Class at Livingston High School"
In addition to the student research conference, DCI also attracts high school teachers to Rutgers during the
summer. The teachers study and work with visiting research mathematicians and computer scientists from
around the world, investigating a specific area of mathematical research. The summer program ends with a
real research experience for the teachers, who then take it back to their schools to repeat it with their
students.